A great day of golf. Anything compared to yesterday could only improve, although truth be told, it has been a day with a lot of wind and cold temperatures, especially at the start of the day. Charley Hull (-6), the mass phenomenon, the current golf heroine, has delivered the best card of the day at the ISPS Handa Womens Scottish Open to get on the tournament podium and place herself just two strokes from Megan Khang and Minjee Lee (-8). The Australian, a two-time Majors champion, has stayed at the top thanks to a 69-stroke card and with only one stumble throughout the round.
The Englishwoman has become a golf phenomenon in the last two years. Her controversial attitude and indomitable spirit make her a true icon that, it is true, helps to give greater impact to the sport. However, the Englishwoman on the golf course has not been able to find a victory that has eluded her for 23 months, almost two years. Charley has a backpack of great results. Since the aforementioned triumph, she has accumulated four second places in the LPGA including the AIG Open of 2023 and another five in the Ladies European Tour, almost all in Aramco Series events. The Englishwoman regularly performs at a high level, but she is missing the finish.
Today, at Dundonald Golf Links, Hull has been the best alongside Khang, thanks to a 68-stroke card. The Englishwoman started on hole 10 and although she has not been very precise from the tee, missing almost half of the streets, Charley has played very fine with the irons and has only missed two greens in regulation throughout the day. Especially inspiring was the stretch between holes 8 and 12 of her round with a cumulative five under par in five holes and with an eagle included at the end of the first round. This tournament would not be a bad place to close the wound as in addition to being a renowned tournament and co-sanctioned between the two main circuits, it has a purse of two million dollars.
Tied with Charley Hull is the Olympic champion, Lydio Ko (-6) and the American, Lauren Coughlin (-6) who have opened a gap in front of the chasing group led by Esther Henseleit (-3). The tournament is very entertaining.
In the Spanish section, the best placed golfers are Ana Peláez and Marta Martin (+2) who with cards of 73 and 74 strokes have finished the day in 32nd place. They will also play the weekend in Scotland. On the other hand, Marta Sanz and María Hernández will have to pack their bags early.
Among the renowned players who have not made the cut at the Scottish Open are Linn Grant (+6) and Maja Stark (+7). The best version of the Swedes will be needed in Virginia if Europe wants to have options at next month’s Solheim Cup. On the American side, Andrea Lee and Ally Ewing have also not made the cut in Scotland.
